Blues put Sandhu in the mix for debut

Date: February 19 2013

THE impressive teenage paceman Gurinder Sandhu is in line to make his first-class debut after being named in the NSW squad for the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia at Adelaide Oval starting on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old right-armer has stood out in his four one-day cup matches for the Blues this season, taking 14 wickets at an average of 14.57.

Sandhu's composed late spell against the Redbacks on Sunday, when he snared 3-55, helped the Blues to an 18-run win and ended South Australia's finals hopes.

He has been on the radar for higher honours after representing Australia at the under-19s World Cup last year and he was given starts with the Sydney Thunder and the Prime Minister's XI this season.

Blues captain Stephen O'Keefe also returns after being sidelined with split webbing in a hand, while Brad Haddin is back after being rested from last week's draw with Tasmania in Hobart.

Josh Hazlewood (foot injury), Tim Cruickshank and Sean Abbott make way for the trio in a 12-man squad.

NSW (17 points) sit fourth on the Shield table, one point behind the Redbacks and five behind Queensland and Victoria, with three matches left before the final in late March.

Meanwhile, the fiery all-rounder Dan Christian has again been shunned by South Australia, with his hot temper landing him in more trouble.

Christian was overlooked for SA's Shield side to play NSW within hours of being sanctioned for an obscene on-field outburst. Cricket Australia issued Christian with an official reprimand for breaching its code of behaviour during SA's one-day loss to NSW on Sunday.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of using language that was ''obscene, offensive or insulting and/or making an obscene gesture'' when SA were bowling against the Blues.

Last November, Christian was banned by the SA hierarchy for damaging dressing rooms when he was dismissed on three separate occasions. SA suspended the all-rounder for one Shield game, and he has been overlooked since.

Christian stayed on the selection outer for the Shield game against the Blues starting on Tuesday, even though the Redbacks were without Phillip Hughes, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Lyon and Kane Richardson, all of whom are on tour with the Test team or Australia A.

SA are third on the Shield table with 18 points, one ahead of NSW. Victoria and Queensland are equal leaders on 22 points.

In Melbourne, Peter Forrest scored his first Shield century this summer as Queensland were bowled out for 322 on day one of their match against Victoria at the MCG.

Bulls captain James Hopes made 88 in a crucial 169-run stand with Forrest (119), after the visitors had slumped to 4-41 and then 5-90.